Duratool Desoldering Tool Emergency Tip Repair - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Ti Pwun · 17th Jun 2016, 7:43 am

This is by no means intended to be a fix but it will get you by until you can order a/some spare(s).

The tip on mine failed and wouldn't suck out the solder so I switched off and went for the spare I assumed I had. I didn't have one and I was mid job so I had to come up with something.

I found that the centre part of an appropriately sized rivet can be knocked out easily and will provide a perfect tube that can be press fitted into the end of the desoldering iron tip using a vice.

No more leak and with a little bit of filing, the 'refurbed' tip is very usable and will easily last until my order for more tips arrives. I usually file the end of old tips and keep them for point-to-point desoldering in valve equipment but such a tip is useless on PCBs. This solution, however, works perfectly.

17th Jun 2016, 1:14 pm

Probably last for ages as all 'quick fixes' do!

Ti Pwun · 17th Jun 2016, 4:29 pm

I've been using it all day without any problems so I may see how long it lasts before fitting a new one. 'If it aint broke...' and all that.

EDIT: I think the rivet next to the tip is the next size up, by the way. Now that I'm looking I doubt I fitted a rivet that size inside the tip. There is one in there, though, and it is working very well.

McMurdo · 18th Jun 2016, 2:40 pm

is that a steel or aluminium rivet?

Ti Pwun · 19th Jun 2016, 2:35 am

It's aluminium, but even though the intention was only to keep the tool working until my order for replacemrents came in, I use it at 360°C so it's nowhere near the 660(ish)°C needed to melt aluminium so I wasn't too worried about it.

It looks exactly as it did when I fitted it and it's hardly been off since then...

Ti Pwun · 21st Jun 2016, 3:25 pm

Update:

The rivel finally failed this afternoon. Well, not so much failed but it did become loose and threatened to fall out a couple of times.

Still, as a temporary fix until more tips can be ordered, I would still recommend it if you're in the position that I was at the time. It had a lot of use in the days since it was fitted.

I will, of course, keep more than one or two spare tips in stock in future.

17th Jun 2016, 7:43 am	#1
Ti Pwun Heptode Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 888	Duratool Desoldering Tool Emergency Tip Repair This is by no means intended to be a fix but it will get you by until you can order a/some spare(s). The tip on mine failed and wouldn't suck out the solder so I switched off and went for the spare I assumed I had. I didn't have one and I was mid job so I had to come up with something. I found that the centre part of an appropriately sized rivet can be knocked out easily and will provide a perfect tube that can be press fitted into the end of the desoldering iron tip using a vice. No more leak and with a little bit of filing, the 'refurbed' tip is very usable and will easily last until my order for more tips arrives. I usually file the end of old tips and keep them for point-to-point desoldering in valve equipment but such a tip is useless on PCBs. This solution, however, works perfectly. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Ti Pwun; 17th Jun 2016 at 7:49 am.

17th Jun 2016, 1:14 pm	#2
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Duratool Desoldering Tool Emergency Tip Repair Probably last for ages as all 'quick fixes' do!

17th Jun 2016, 4:29 pm	#3
Ti Pwun Heptode Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 888	Re: Duratool Desoldering Tool Emergency Tip Repair I've been using it all day without any problems so I may see how long it lasts before fitting a new one. 'If it aint broke...' and all that. EDIT: I think the rivet next to the tip is the next size up, by the way. Now that I'm looking I doubt I fitted a rivet that size inside the tip. There is one in there, though, and it is working very well.

18th Jun 2016, 2:40 pm	#4
McMurdo Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK. Posts: 5,271	Re: Duratool Desoldering Tool Emergency Tip Repair is that a steel or aluminium rivet? __________________ Kevin

19th Jun 2016, 2:35 am	#5
Ti Pwun Heptode Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 888	Re: Duratool Desoldering Tool Emergency Tip Repair It's aluminium, but even though the intention was only to keep the tool working until my order for replacemrents came in, I use it at 360°C so it's nowhere near the 660(ish)°C needed to melt aluminium so I wasn't too worried about it. It looks exactly as it did when I fitted it and it's hardly been off since then...

21st Jun 2016, 3:25 pm	#6
Ti Pwun Heptode Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 888	Re: Duratool Desoldering Tool Emergency Tip Repair Update: The rivel finally failed this afternoon. Well, not so much failed but it did become loose and threatened to fall out a couple of times. Still, as a temporary fix until more tips can be ordered, I would still recommend it if you're in the position that I was at the time. It had a lot of use in the days since it was fitted. I will, of course, keep more than one or two spare tips in stock in future.